What is HAVA?

HAVA stands for the Help America Vote Act that is in place to ensure that voters with disabilities have appropriate access to the polling places and voting machines. HAVA governs federal elections. For those of you who would like to vote and are not registered, please call Protection and Advocacy at 1-800-432-4682 or 256-3100 as we have the applications and will be pleased to help you fill them out.

Those agencies working under the HAVA Act are in the process of doing a statewide survey of polling sites and report on those sites that have inadequate access. Agencies will measure parking spaces to see that dimensions are up to code, also ramps and the path to the polling site, keeping in mind the full range of disabilities. The building entrance, hallways, doorways and bathrooms should be accessible. Persons with all disabilities including physical, visual, hearing, cognitive and emotional are covered under the Help America Vote Act.

Opportunity for access and participation for voters with disabilities should be equal to those of other voters. There will be accessible voting machines with voices and a height adequate for a wheel chair to roll up to. Services will be available on both the Navajo and Pueblo sites.